84 | Lab-works Architecture T T Russell Fredric Science facilities a specialist focus The practice’s reputation has grown alongside the increasing complexity of research facilities. ARCHITECTURE Designing laboratories for science, research and healthcare organisations has become a specialised field of architecture, and one New Zealand practice has spent decades refining how those environments work. Lab-works Architecture focuses on the design of scientific and laboratory facilities across research, healthcare, education, and analytical sectors. Based in Wellington, and with an office in Christchurch, the practice employs around two dozen staff and provides specialist architectural services for technically complex environments. The practice emerged from a broader architectural background. Its origins trace back to Pynenburg & Collins Architects, established in 1981 and initially involved in a wide range of residential and commercial projects. During the early 1990s, requests began arriving from research organisations and universities seeking help designing laboratory facilities. Lab-works principal Jody Seabright says that work steadily increased, and by the early 2000s, laboratory projects had become the dominant part of the business. “Lab-works Architecture was established to speak directly to science clients and reflect the practice’s growing specialist capability.” Today, that capability sits at the centre of the practice. Laboratory buildings demand a level of technical integration beyond conventional architecture, combining specialised equipment, building services and safety systems within tightly controlled environments. This requires architects to understand how laboratories function day to day, including the equipment scientists use, the relationships between different spaces so designs support the workflows, and the safety requirements scientific work demands. “Over time, we gathered knowledge, expertise, and experience. By the time we reached the early 2000s we were doing more science facilities than general architecture,” Jody says. Much of the technical complexity lies in building services. Laboratory environments rely on carefully controlled airflow systems to manage containment and cleanliness. Clean rooms require positive air pressure to keep contaminants out, while containment laboratories operate under negative pressure to ensure hazardous material cannot escape. Understanding these principles allows architects to work closely with mechanical and services engineers while translating scientific requirements into practical building design. The practice’s reputation has grown alongside the increasing complexity of research facilities. Its portfolio includes work for hospitals, universities, research institutes, and private science companies, with numerous projects having received recognition in New Zealand Institute of Architects awards programmes, alongside international awards for laboratory design and sustainability. Relationships across the science sector have been central to that growth, with projects supporting organisations working in all areas of scientific endeavour, including agritech, biotechnology, and medical research. Those projects often involve collaboration with scientists and specialist engineers from the earliest stages of design. The briefing process focuses on understanding how an organisation works, rather than beginning with predetermined design solutions. “We go through an inquiry-based briefing process to understand what clients do and what they need to function successfully,” Jody says. Building and maintaining specialist knowledge also shapes the practice’s workforce. Laboratory design requires experience developed over time, so the practice focuses on training architects and graduates internally, passing knowledge from senior staff to newer team members. That approach helps maintain continuity across projects, while developing the next generation of laboratory design specialists. Technology is also playing an increasing role in how laboratories are designed. The practice works extensively with Building Information Modelling and 3D digital design tools to coordinate complex systems before construction begins. “We’ve got virtual reality headsets and systems here, so people can actually walk around their facility in cyberspace while it’s still being designed, and get a better sense of what the environment and what the finished laboratory is going to be like,” says Jody. Looking ahead, Lab-works Architecture sees opportunities in supporting New Zealand’s expanding science and research sector, particularly as emerging companies move from early research to larger-scale production facilities. “If we can make a laboratory where scientists create something that never existed before, that can change not only the lives of people here, but communities around the world,” Jody says. K2 DOORS K2DOORS.CO.NZ Hygienic Door & Window Specialists Designed, manufactured, and installed in New Zealand. • Market leaders in hygienic environments • Trusted across healthcare, food processing & commercial sectors • End-to-end solutions from design to installation SPECIALISING IN: • Hermetic Sliding Doors • Fibreglass GRP Hygienic Doors • Steel Clad Doors • Fire Doors • Hygienic Windows • K2 Panel Doors • Commercial Joinery • Stainless Steel Frames 03 688 0029 | k2doors@jedennison.co.nz | k2doors.co.nz | 5 Redruth Street, Timaru
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